"An international school partnership can very much enrich pupil understanding of themes of global significance such as diversity, conflict and specific global challenges such as climate change." Catherine McNerney, International Co-ordinator, Phoenix Primary and Secondary School
Phoenix School is one of 8 schools in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets who have been working in partnership with 7 schools in the Eastern Cape of South Africa since 2006. 
Catherine McNerney plays an active role in co-ordinating the school’s partnership and has experienced the benefits of an international link for pupils, teachers, senior managers, and for parents and the community.
"Through curricular projects and exchange of materials, pupils can learn about life in another culture in a meaningful way. Teachers can develop their awareness of global issues, and can contribute to professional development through communication and exchanging materials. At a whole school level, systems, policies and best practice can be compared and shared. Parents of both communities have been involved in school visits that have taken place, and they have given very positive feedback about the effect that the link has had on their child’s educational experience. Our partnership has strengthened the bond between the London schools, and the teaching staff work together on many different curricular projects. The cluster approach allows us to share responsibility making the partnership more sustainable. We are now planning to use the partnership resource material, particularly the health resource as we have just chosen the theme for a shared curricular project with our partner school. We also plan further teacher visits, and to develop an international committee with all stakeholders involved, to ensure that everybody plays a part in our school partnership."
